Can I use an Emergency Passport as proof of identification within Schengen before travelling back to the UK?
I am a British national living in Spain and my passport is either lost or stolen. I noticed this two days ago when I was intending to take a trip to Salzburg. As it happens, I managed to travel using my UK Driver's Licence. I think a severe mistake was made, as was pointed out to me in Austria, but as they were Schengen Countries, apparently all that is needed is a proof of identity, not a 'travel document'.
My question, therefore, is this. I have business trips over the next three weeks taking me from Spain to Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy, then back to Germany, and then to the UK. If I obtain an Emergency Passport from the Consulate here in Barcelona, would this be valid as an identity document within Schengen, before I eventually 'cash it in', so to speak, as a travel document when I make my trip from Germany to the UK?
I am hoping so, as I don't fancy my chances of getting back to the UK in time to secure an appointment for a fast-track passport. I am going to call the consulate tomorrow, but would appreciate any advice or prior experience.
Best Answer
Yes, that's more-or-less what emergency passports are for, even outside the EU or the Schengen area. An emergency passport is in fact a travel document, unlike national ID cards (which are however perfectly valid within the EU as well) or driver's licenses (which are not intended to be used for that). (I write “more-or-less” because emergency passports are primarily used to come back to your country of origin, not necessarily to roam the world but they are valid travel documents; a travel document that's only valid for a specific trip is typically called a “laissez-passer”).
There are some restrictions like not being eligible for the US visa waiver program or not fulfilling minimum validity rules in many countries but none of this is relevant within the EU. I once had the occasion to leave and re-enter Germany with a French emergency passport issued by the embassy in Berlin. I recall that the border guards seemed to look at it a little more carefully than usual (the threads binding it were a bit loose) but that's it, no problem whatsoever.
(Another time, I also managed to fly with a driver's license and a good story but I wouldn't count on it working every time. If you have some form of Spanish residence card, you might want to take that with you. While it's not supposed to replace a passport, it can be helpful to reassure any airline employee who might be nervous about letting you board your flight.)
Pictures about "Can I use an Emergency Passport as proof of identification within Schengen before travelling back to the UK?"
Can you come to UK with European ID?
You cannot use an EU , EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK unless you: have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man's settlement schemes.Can you return to UK with expired passport?
Re: Can I travel back to the UK with an expired Passport? No. If your passport has expired, you don't have a passport, just an entitlement to one.What must travelers between countries use for identification?
You'll need your passport for international travel, and you can use your passport to verify your identity at the TSA checkpoint instead of a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver's license.Are passports checked within Schengen?
Part of the Schengen agreement also has provisions for allowing individual member states to temporarily reinstate border controls in certain circumstances. In addition, expect random passport checks when crossing borders at any time, as well as when boarding a plane at the airport.THE SCHENGEN ZONE TRAVEL EXPLAINED - DIGITAL NOMAD TV
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